Graduate Planner Review

As a graduate planner I support on various types of jobs including strategic land promotion, pre-application advice, planning applications and advising on long term planning strategy. I work on a variety of projects across the midlands. My role involves site visits, client and internal meetings, research and report writing.

Since being at Savills I have gone from being a complete novice with hardly any planning experience to being able to understand complex planning legislation and processes, and am trusted to liaise with clients. I have also grown in confidence as a professional immeasurably with the support of my team.

The apprenticeship has been really enjoyable so far! I attend university in person 1 day per week and 4 days in the office. I have gained so much practical knowledge at work which I certainly would not have learned if I had chosen to study for my masters full-time.

The university have been very well organised, and my employers have supported me to 'get on with' uni without constantly checking my progress. There is ample support available both at uni and at work, and I have benefited from being able to discuss assignments with colleagues in the office.

My team have been really supportive. Nobody (including Directors) is ever too busy to give me advice (on both work and uni matters), and I have received lots of support to gain knowledge and skills since being at Savills.

My university have been really supportive, both academically and in terms of my APC too. I have a meeting each term with my university tutor and my manager to discuss my progress which is a good way to ensure that each party is on the same page.

I have learnt far more in my work at Savills than at university so far. In my opinion the RTPI's requirement for planners to gain an RTPI-accredited Master's in order to qualify is somewhat elitist and exclusionary given the lack of practical planning skills taught on planning courses.

There are lots of RTPI Young Planners events in my locality, some of which Savills have recently sponsored. The company also runs networking events with clients, and the graduates in the office are really friendly and enjoy socialising.

Yes

I am thoroughly enjoying being an apprentice at Savills. No two days are the same and I have been able to work on a huge variety of projects. I've been given responsibility since Day 1 and have learnt so much in a very short time.

Be yourself! Be honest if you don't know something - the main thing is to show that you are eager to learn and have a positive attitude. Do your research and know the company's ethos/the kinds of projects we work on.